What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down at Night and Needs to Stop?
3 Answers
When driving at night, visibility is affected by the darkness. If your car breaks down and needs to stop, ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Try to park in a safe area, turn on the hazard warning lights, side marker lights, and rear position lights, and set up a warning sign behind the vehicle.
As a seasoned long-distance driver, I believe ensuring personal safety is the top priority when stopping due to a breakdown at night. I remember once having a tire blowout at 2 a.m. on the highway. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and moved the car as far to the right side of the emergency lane as possible. Then, after getting out of the car, I checked the rear traffic to ensure it was safe before quickly placing a triangular warning sign 150 meters behind the car and putting on a reflective vest. This is crucial because visibility is poor at night, and if the warning sign isn't placed far enough, it's easy to get rear-ended. Only after completing these steps did I call for roadside assistance. I usually turn on my phone's location service to help them find me more easily, and I leave a small light on in the car as an additional warning. Never attempt to repair the car yourself—it's extremely dangerous with fast-moving traffic on the highway.
A friend asked me what to do if the car breaks down at night, and I believe the first step is to stay calm. When stopping, first steady the steering wheel, gently press the brake to slow down, and avoid sudden turns to prevent losing control. Try to pull over to a safe area, such as the roadside or a service area. Then turn on the hazard lights and emergency flashers, and remember to place a reflective warning triangle behind the car. I always keep a power bank-style emergency light in my car, which comes in handy at this moment—hanging it on the roof to increase visibility. If it's a remote area, stay inside the car with doors and windows locked while waiting for help. Checking the issue during the day is manageable, but it's too dangerous at night. It’s also useful to keep bottled water and a blanket in the car—last winter, I relied on these to wait for four hours on the highway.
